2 days in Moscow: a day-by-day itinerary
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 8 of 10 free; paid: Moscow Kremlin, St Basil's Cathedral
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 17:25 each day
- Start and finish
- Moscow Kremlin → Sparrow Hills
- On foot
- ≈ 42 min in total
- Transport
- 3 rides, ≈ 1 h 11 min
- Lunch
- around 12:00
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Not on a Thursday for day one — the Kremlin is closed. In summer end day two at sunset on Sparrow Hills.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Moscow09:30–16:38 · 5 places · 7 h 10 min
Moscow Kremlin
· 2 h 30 min · From 1,100 ₽
- Lunch · 1 h
- 5 min on foot
Red Square
· 30 min · Free
- 5 min on foot
Kitay-gorod
· 1 h · Free
- 6 min on foot
St Basil's Cathedral
· 45 min · 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors
- 7 min on foot
Zaryadye Park
· 1 h · Free
Day 2 · Moscow09:30–17:25 · 5 places · 8 h
Gorky Park
· 1 h 30 min · Free
- 19 min · transport or taxi
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
· 40 min · Free
- 19 min on foot
Arbat Street
· 1 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 25 min · transport or taxi
Moscow City
· 1 h 30 min · Free
- 27 min · transport or taxi
Sparrow Hills
· 45 min · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
8 of 10 are free; 2 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Moscow Kremlin | 64 | 2 h 30 min | from 1,100 ₽ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | St Basil's Cathedral | 65 | 45 min | 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors |
| Other 8 places | 8 h | Free | ||
| Total | 11 h 10 min | 8 of 10 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Moscow Kremlin. First thing, at opening time: Cathedral Square is 1,100 ₽, the Armoury 1,400 ₽ by timed session (10:00, 12:00, 14:30, 16:30). The Kremlin is closed on Thursdays.
- 2
Red Square. The square is free and usually open around the clock; it closes for major events.
- 3
Kitay-gorod. Nikolskaya, Ilyinka and Varvarka with 16th–17th-century churches — an hour on foot. The Romanov Boyars' Chambers are 700 ₽, closed on Tuesdays.
- 4
St Basil's Cathedral. Inside is a museum, 700 ₽, free under 7. Last entry 17:00; closed on the first Wednesday of the month.
- 5
Zaryadye Park. End day one on the floating bridge over the Moskva river with a view of the Kremlin — free, at any hour.
Day 2
- 6
Gorky Park. Start day two on the embankment and in Neskuchny Garden. The main entrance arch is under restoration; the park is free.
- 7
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Russia's largest church, free. On Mondays the upper church opens only at 13:00.
- 8
Arbat Street. Old Arbat from Arbatskaya Square to Smolenskaya — an hour on foot. Do not confuse it with New Arbat.
- 9
Moscow City. Walking between the towers and in Afimall is free; Panorama 360 on the 89th floor is from 2,000 ₽. The Bagration bridge is closed.
- 10
Sparrow Hills. The viewpoint by Moscow State University is free and open around the clock. The cable car to Luzhniki is 800 ₽, until 21:00.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Moscow
- A first trip, the highlights without rushing
- On foot and by metro
- Half-day museums — the Tretyakov is in the 3-day itinerary
- VDNKh and Ostankino are in the 4-day itinerary
Not on a Thursday for day one — the Kremlin is closed. In summer end day two at sunset on Sparrow Hills.
How to spend 2 days in Moscow
Day one is the heart of Moscow: the Kremlin, Red Square and everything around it. Day two follows the Moskva river south-west: from Gorky Park via the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the Arbat to Moscow City, and on to Sparrow Hills.
The YesGo planner works out the order and lunch within each day. Day two has three metro or taxi rides of 20–30 minutes; the rest is on foot.
Getting around
Get a Troika card, or the 1-day unlimited Yediny ticket for 415 ₽ if you ride a lot. Changes inside the metro are free. For Sparrow Hills use Vorobyovy Gory station; for Moscow City, Delovoy Tsentr.
Can I swap the days?
Yes: each day covers its own area. Just keep the Kremlin day off Thursday.
Where to stay for 2 days in Moscow
In the centre, inside the Garden Ring or near the circle metro line: the Kremlin and Gorky Park are then 10–20 minutes away.
How to do it right
- The Kremlin is closed on Thursdays — put day one on another day.
- Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards do not work in the metro — buy a Troika card at the ticket office.
- The museum and viewpoint in the Gorky Park arch are closed for restoration; the park itself is open around the clock.
- The Bagration bridge in Moscow City is closed — walk between the towers and the embankment by the street.
- The Sparrow Hills cable car runs until 21:00; on Mondays from 16:00.
Questions
Is 2 days in Moscow enough?
For the centre and the views, yes. Museums, VDNKh and the estates need more days.
What to do in Moscow in 2 days?
Day one: the Kremlin, Red Square, Kitay-gorod, St Basil's and Zaryadye. Day two: Gorky Park, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Arbat, Moscow City and Sparrow Hills.
Where is the best view of Moscow?
From Sparrow Hills by the university — free, at any hour — and Panorama 360 in Moscow City.
How much is Panorama 360?
From 2,000 ₽.
How much is the Sparrow Hills cable car?
800 ₽; it runs until 21:00.
Do I need a metro card?
Yes: a Troika card, or a 1-day unlimited ticket for 415 ₽.
Can I swap the days?
Yes, as long as the Kremlin day is not a Thursday.
Where to stay?
Inside the Garden Ring or near the circle metro line.
Is it good with kids?
Yes: Gorky Park, the cable car and Zaryadye are popular with children.
How do I pay in Moscow?
Russia uses the rouble (₽). Bank cards issued abroad usually do not work in Russia — plan how you will pay before the trip; for the metro, buy a Troika card at the ticket office.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Moscow Kremlin Museums: tickets, Armoury sessions, visitor rules
- Moscow Metro: fares, hours, Troika card
- mos.ru: Zaryadye, Gorky Park, Sparrow Hills, VDNKh
- Wikipedia: Red Square, Moscow Kremlin, Kitay-gorod
